Damien Rice long-listed for the Shortlist

Damien Rice's O album has made it onto the 'Longlist' for the 2003 Shortlist Music Prize.

The American version of the Mercurys, the 'listmakers' include such prominent names as Tom Waits, The Neptunes, Cameron Crowe, Chemical Brothers, Dave Matthews, Josh Homme and Nic Harcourt who was the one who gave the 'thumbs up' to Rice.

The 86 nominees will be whittled down to ten finalists who'll get to do battle in Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater on October 16.

"This year's Longlist features artists from five continents and 13 countries, ranging from rock to hip hop to folk to electronica," enthuses Shortlist co-founder Greg Spotts, "and each album is handpicked by one of the world's top musicians or tastemakers.

With over forty-five different labels represented, and half the nominees signed to independent companies, this year's Longlist shows a vibrant and prolific creative community."